October 2008

The mob came with weapons shouting Jai Bajrang bali (Hail Hanuman) and using abusive language cursing Christian villagers. They burnt two Church of North India churches, one Roman Catholic church and one Independent Pentecostal church. We all ran to the jungle. But Pastor Samuel Nayak was not that fortunate. They caught him and killed him in front of his wife. They also set his mother on fire.
Pastor Premanad Nayak of the Church of North India, Bakingia, Kandhamal

November 2009 update

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The Church of North India, a partner church of the Uniting Church in Australia, has appealed for support from the Uniting Church and other churches in the face of a wave of violent attacks by Hindu nationalist extremists against the minority Christian population in Orissa State. The Church of North India has described the situation as a ‘reign of terror’.

A Hindu leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and four other people were murdered on 23 August by Maoist guerillas. However, Hindu nationalist extremists blamed the murder on the Christian community.

An estimated 50,000 Christians have been forced to flee their homes, women have been raped and burnt, a Catholic nun was pack raped, and priests have been tortured. More than 36 people have been murdered in the violence and over 400 injured. Some reports from churches suggest that the actual number of people murdered could be in the hundreds. More than 400 churches and prayer halls have been ransacked and desecrated, and hymn books and bibles have been burnt. More than 30,000 Christians now living in refugee camps or are hiding in the forests, including children from orphanages that have been destroyed leaving the children without shelter. Even the refugee camps have been attacked by Hindu extremists, some of whom have attempted to poison the water supply to the camps. More than 100 Christian educational institutions have been attacked.

One of those murdered was a young Hindu woman, Rajni Majh, who worked at a Catholic orphanage. Rajni was tied up by Hindu extremists and thrown into the burning orphanage.

The churches report that Christians captured by the Hindu extremists are being forced to convert to Hinduism. Hindu extremists have threatened to murder all Christians in Orissa to wipe them from the state.

The violence has spread to other states controlled by the Hindu nationalist Bharantiya Janata Party (BJP). In Madhya Pradesh, Hindu nationalists burnt down the 86-year-old St Bartholomew Anglican Church in Ratlam city.

On 30 September a mob of 3,000 Hindu extremists burnt 300 houses and three churches in Kandhamal, while police stood by and watched. One person was murdered and two required medical treatment.

Churches have expressed concern that they and related non-government organizations have been blocked from being able to distribute relief materials except through the Red Cross. The church leaders have stated that they have no confidence in the management of the Red Cross in Orissa as it is managed by the Government officers most of whom are party to violence against the Christians

The churches have also complained that many innocent Christians have been taken into police custody and been subjected to inhumane methods of interrogation. At the same time the police refuse to register complaints by Christians when they have been the victims of criminal activity.

Church of North India leaders have filed a petition with the National Commission for Minorities seeking national government intervention. A church delegation met with the Indian Prime Minister, Shri Manmoham Singh, who said the situation in Orissa State was a ìa national shameî. He stated the Chief Minister and Governor of Orissa State had failed to undertake their duties.

The Chief Minister of Orissa, The Hon. Navin Patnayak, promised a delegation of church leaders on 17 September that the Christians in the State will be protected and offered assurance that all possible efforts were being taken to restore peace and harmony in the State.

Some photos are too disturbing for publication: this photo is of a burnt out orphanage – part of the attacks

Take Action Now: points to include in your email:

• Express your horror at the atrocities committed against the Christian community in Orissa and neighbouring states and the failure of the Indian authorities to take timely and effective action end these gross human rights abuses.
• Ask for assurance that immediate and effective measures will be taken to end the attacks and to bring to justice those responsible for the reported murders, rapes and arson of homes, shops, schools, orphanages and churches.
• Express deep concern at reports that local police have ignored some of the crimes being committed and have failed to carry out investigations into the crimes when the victims are Christians.
• Ask specifically about what steps have been taken to investigate the murders of Pastor Akbar Digal, Pastor Samuel Nayak of Bakingia, Kandhamal, Pastor Matthew Naik from Kanbagiri, seven month pregnant Kamalini Naik and her one year old son from Kandhamal district and Pastor Gopana Naik from Badimunda and to bring those responsible to justice.
• Ask what investigation has been conducted into the attack on four nuns of the Missionaries of Charity who were travelling on a train from Raipur to Indore on 5 September that resulted in the nuns being severe injuried.
• Ask what investigation is being conducted into the murder of a young woman, Rajni Majh, who was burned to death by a mob on 25 August at the orphanage where she worked.
• Ask that the Indian authorities take immediate and effective action to provide all necessary support to people who have been forced to flee their homes to ensure their health and well-being and to provide them with adequate compensation to rebuild their homes.
• Ask that relief agencies and Indian churches be allowed free access to provide humanitarian relief to those who have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the persecution they have been subjected to.

November 2009 update

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Update (Oct 09)